Teaching unions
Primary teaching
Irish National Teachers Union
The Irish National Teachers’ Organisation is the oldest and largest teachers’ trade union in Ireland. It represents 40,633 teachers at primary level in the Republic of Ireland and 7,086 teachers at primary and post-primary level in Northern Ireland. Total membership is 47,719 (August 2019).
INTO campaigns for professional salaries and conditions of service. INTO has a strong reputation for representing members, and secured agreements about handling complaints, combating bullying and promoting positive workplaces.
Member campaigns such as “Room to Bloom” and “Stand up for Primary Education” have secured thousands of additional teaching jobs despite tight budget conditions.
Support networks for LGBT teachers and for Separated Teachers are provided, and INTO has a Global Solidarity Network for teachers interested in global education/union issues.
Secondary teaching
Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland
The ASTI is Ireland's main second level teachers union and represents 17,500 teachers in community schools, community colleges, comprehensive schools and voluntary secondary schools attended by 80% of all second-level students.
Included among their members are class teachers, school principals, deputy-principals, assistant principals, special duties teachers, temporary teachers, part-time teachers, home-school liaison teachers, guidance counsellors, learning support teachers and resource teachers.
The union represents teachers in voluntary secondary schools, community schools, comprehensive schools and community colleges.
The objects and aims of the ASTI are to promote second-level education, to unite and organise all second-level teachers, to promote and protect teachers' interests, and to maintain and improve teachers' conditions of employment.
Post-Primary, Higher and Further Education
Teachers Union of Ireland
The Teachers' Union of Ireland is a Trade Union organising teachers and lecturers in Ireland engaged in post-primary, higher and further education. TUI represents over 19,000 members in the education service. The Union is made up of 62 Branches in 19 Areas.
TUI is a unified and democratic body but one with a very diverse membership. TUI members are to be found in Vocational Schools, Community Colleges, Community and Comprehensive Schools, Educate Together and other Post Primary Schools. TUI members also form the largest single body of third level lecturers in Ireland working in Institutes of Technology/Technological University Dublin.
TUI membership is free for student teachers, you just need ro fill in the application form.
Academic staff in universities
IFUT
IFUT represents academic staff in universities around Ireland.
Those eligible for membership are: university teachers; researchers; staff in professional library, computer and administrative posts; and higher technicians in some institutions, part- and full-time and temporary and permanent.
The DCU branch of IFUT can be contacted at dcu@ifut.ie.
